The smiles of 23 young women lit up the room Saturday night during the 71st annual Cañon City Music & Blossom Festival Queen's Pageant.

Only four of the contestants previously had participated in the pageant, but most chose to take part in honor of a family member who has inspired them or had taken part in the contest themselves.

One of the three out-of-town judges, Mette Castor, in 2015 was crowned Mrs. Colorado America and placed in the Top 15 at Mrs. America. She also placed in the Top Ten at Miss America as Miss Louisiana 1997.

"I think what we generally were looking for was a young woman who was absolutely comfortable and confident with exactly who she is," she said. "I think we saw that in (Courtney Crossman). She is so confident and comfortable with the fact that she is not necessarily what people think your typical 'pageant girl' is."

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Castor said the contestants were well poised, well put together and well spoken.

"That is so nice to see," she said. "I may have to come back for the festival."

The pageant experience was the first for junior Courtney Crossman who was crowned queen Saturday night.

"My aunt inspired me to be in the pageant," she said. "This is her third year with melanoma. She was part of the court, and I just wanted to do something for her and dedicate something to her."

The kindness and support shared among the contestants during the last several weeks of pageant preparation meant a lot to Crossman, she said.

"When I first came into the pageant, I thought it was going to be a bunch of stuck up, snobby girls, but it's nothing like that at all," she said.

First Attendant Jordyn Whitney's cousin, 2005 Blossom Queen Paije Nikol Whitney, encouraged her to take part in the pageant.

"It's amazing. I'm so happy and so proud," she said. "I couldn't be prouder of the new queen, and I'm just so happy to be on the court. It's the most amazing feeling ever."

Whitney, the only senior on the court, said her favorite memory from the entire experience was the time spent during rehearsals.

"We had a funny little interview one night, and that's probably the thing I'll take with me the most," she said.

Second Attendant and sophomore Alessandra Giammo wanted to participate in the Blossom Pageant because her sister, Cassie, was queen in 2014.

"I just always looked up to seeing her on stage, and I just always wanted to do it," she said. "I feel amazing, I'm so happy."

She said what she has enjoyed so far is meeting new people.

"I'm just so looking forward to being on the court with all these amazing girls," she said.

The newly reigning Miss Personality, junior Ceianna Higgins, said participating in the pageant has been a dream of hers since she was a little girl. Her favorite part of the pageant preparation was the laughter among the contestants.

"I never laughed more with a group of girls than I have with this one," she said. "(I look forward to) being able to representing the community in the most positive way."

This is the 14th pageant directed by Megan McCarter.

"It was a great night, lots of happy moments," she said. "The girls this year were all just phenomenal — I don't know how the judges did it.

"I'm so happy for all these girls, and I'm so proud of them."

The Music & Blossom Festival will run May 5-8 in various locations across Fremont County. For more information, visit www.ccblossomfestival.com/cc.

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